Book Review

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Erin Murphy is your typical Washington mum, trying to balance her job with her husband’s needs and her children’s requirements. Erin is a life-long Democrat and works in PR for an environmental lobby group. When the Democrats get trounced at the mid-term elections, Erin’s job disappears and she is left with the dilemma and guilt of not having been there for her children, and the difficulty of finding another job in what is largely a Republican Washington now. To complicate matters, in House Divided by Jami Deise, Erin’s husband Jack is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican and when he lands a plum job with the ultra-right-wing television network TRC (The Right Choice), family loyalties will be pushed to the brink. Can Erin settle happily as a stay-at-home mum while Jack makes a fortune as a television commentator. Her warring emotions and the political conflict provide for an exciting and fascinating journey.

House Divided was, I felt, a timely reminder of how political loyalties can divide even the most tight-knit of families. Jami Deise has provided a fascinating insight into the life of those on the fringe of Washington politics and how it can consume their very existence. This is a serious look at an issue that affects not only those in Washington, but all working mothers. There is an overwhelming guilt that many mothers experience over not being there for their children while they are growing up. Erin, like many mothers, must face this balancing act of money vs time. Although the topic is serious enough, Deise’s writing is light and fun. She manages to extract the quirkiest moments from serious situations and this made the book incredibly easy to read. I enjoyed being able to relate to a system I actually know very little about, and I loved the little in-joke at the end about the current administration. This is a timely book and one I know many people will enjoy reading. Well-written and easy to read. What more can a reader ask for?